State of the Libertarian Party in Indianapolis

On one of the local political BLOGs someone made a comment about Libertarians supposedly being absent on opposing the government funded construction of the Colts' stadium and the recent bailout (by tax increase and even more borrowing) of the entity that operates it. They tried to spin things as Libertarians suddenly coming out of the wood work over the silly nanny-state smoking ban garbage that comes up perennially. Clearly, they weren't paying attention.

It did prompt me to think about how much the party has grown, how closer as a group of friends and 'comrades in arms' it seems many of us have become and so I thought I'd repost some excerpts of my response to that individual.

Libertarians did go off the hook on Lucas Oil Stadium, but arguably had a smaller and maybe less organized Marion County presence at the time. Libertarians were all over the CIB bailout and mismanagement garbage, I personally appreciated the Libertarians being invited by Chairman Lutz (R) to speak before his committee on that subject. Unfortunately, the Chicken Little crowd won that battle.

A few years ago at some of the (not directly party functions - just social in nature) Libertarian MeetUp group we would get five to eight people. In the last year there have been up to 30 or 35 attendees and the group recently split into a North Side and South Side group (check out MeetUp.com for details). Tim Maguire has been very active as the Marion County (LPMC) Chair, there is a core group of bright and active people and there is now even a Libertarian Party City Councilor.

At a recent (July 31?) Friedman Foundation event downtown where State School Superintendent Tony Bennett (R) spoke, and I think Councilor Ben Hunter's (R) wife was one of the organizers, the Libertarian Party of Indiana's Exec. Director Chris Spangle took home the prize for bringing the most people to the event and, the LPMC filled more than four tables (40+ people) at the Stossel / Economics Club event this week.

Note: The sense is that the party is continuing to grow as more people realize the other two parties are continuing to field less than impressive and often outright anti-Constitution candidates. More people are recognizing that the economic and foreign policy positions of BOTH the typical Democrat or Republican are harming our country. There is also a sense that existing Libertarians are becoming increasingly organized.

The smoking thing is just continuing to prove that SOME Republicans on the council aren't REALLY for small, unobtrusive government and low-taxes. In fact, Vernon Brown (D - 18th) has voted better than every single one of the Republicans [at least through August he had]. But, it always helps being the opposition to whatever tax increases or tyranny those in power want to bring forward.

For what it is worth, Christine Scales (R - 4th) has the best voting record of the Republicans and is proving to be someone who is really trying to do her own homework on issues and do the right things. As you would expect, none of them are perfect though and that's understandable.